Entrepreneurship has a great appeal in today’s world. The rapid growth of the world of work through the globalization of the market and massive use of digital technologies has made the stakes much higher. New opportunities abound for young entrepreneurs. These opportunities have their risks and challenges. Imagining yourself as your boss is a good dream that has worked out for many and also not worked out for many.
To mitigate the risk of entrepreneurship, an entrepreneur must have certain skills.
An entrepreneur must be open to learning new things continuously, you will make mistakes that will teach you lessons, you will encounter problems that will teach you lessons, and you will come across opportunities that will teach you a lesson.
Entrepreneurship is the best teacher and this is not just an entrepreneurial skill, it is a life skill.
Communication
Great ideas can’t flop if the leader cant communicate effectively. Entrepreneurs interact with people and have great communication skills enabling them not only to present their ideas clearly but to also improve the synergy among team members, clients and colleagues.
You need good communication skills to explain your project, training, elevator pitches, presentation and deal-making.
An entrepreneur has to be a good listener and has clear spoken communication skills.
Your written communication also has to be top-notch. Communication through email, reports, newsletters, logs, or instruction to team members must convey your thoughts because negative feedback on your writing can affect your company, also using direct and concise words reduces the chances of the reader misinterpreting your words.
Communication also helps you in negotiation, you have to negotiate for almost everything in business.
Branding
It is often argued that perception trumps reality and that is the case in the business world.
An entrepreneur needs to define his/her brand in other to leverage it.
At IABC Africa, we are known for enhancing the growth of businesses in africa, our brand colour is blue and black and this reflects in everything we do.
An entrepreneur needs to have branding skills to be able to keep competitors at bay. Your branding is the promise you made to your customers.
Defining your brand can be a tedious task but it isis a rewarding venture in the long term.
Branding is no longer on the fringes of businesses.
It is an idea that many have embraced and you risk being left behind if you don’t up your branding game.
Branding helps customers and employers build an emotional attachment to their business
Good branding sustains a business and guarantees longevity
It also means premium pricing.
Marketing
Your company is nothing without customers. Communications play a big role in marketing but beyond that, an entrepreneur should be able to close know how to close sales, grow their following on social media attract new customers, plan promotions and many more.
Your marketing plan has to align with the behaviour of your target audience. You can find out about the behaviour of your customers through market research.
The research will help you to craft your message to hit them directly through any medium leading to an increase in sales and creating awareness about the product.
A great marketing plan also helps customer loyalty.
